2012 Fiat 500X review and pictures

Apparently the Italian carmaker Fiat will enlarge the 500 lineup with a fourth member very soon. To be more precise, we are talking about a rival of the Mini-Countryman, the 500X. The model will be available for purchase starting next year. The new SUV will be available with a choice of a FWD or an AWD setup. On the outside it has a more masculine look, in comparison with other models from the 500 lineup. Even so, the new Fiat 500X will have some current styling cues. For example it will borrow the appearance of the headlamps and taillights and also the chrome badge. The model will use as base the widened version of the Punto hatchback platform, so it might have the same size as the MPV model. This means it might be more than 4 meters long. The carmaker used the same platform for the 500L model. The new small SUV will be capable of hosting five adults and it will have more than 400 liters cargo room. There might be a small difference with the cars fitted with the all-wheel drive layout. The load capacity might be a little lower. In terms of power, the Fiat 500X hides under the hood a 1.4-liter TwinAir gasoline engine just like the model mentioned above, the 500L. This power plant will be capable of developing 93 horsepower. This output is available for the models with the FWD configuration. The carmaker is offering another choice as well; this time we are talking about the 2-cylinder 1.0-liter engine capable of developing 104 horsepower. Different Multijet diesel engines will also be available.

Fiat specialists might reveal the 500X this year at the Paris Motor Show, next month. The model we are about to see will be a pre-production version of the car available in showrooms starting next year.